School...you are my enemy!

School has been so stressful lately! I guess having that extra class this semester really does make things more intense...I kinda expected that it would so I shouldn't be surprised. All I can say is, I'm thankful for family and friends because they can make life enjoyable in the face of stress. :)

But, I do need to remember to actually enjoy them instead of focusing on everything that's stressful when I'm with them. I feel like that was me this past weekend. I really had an AMAZING weekend! But I'll admit that I was less enthusiastic at times because I couldn't quit thinking about my responsibilities. How annoying.

Some things to remember from my weekend:

-Lunch with Iris Friday afternoon...great catch-up time.
-Tag-teaming Friday night Bible study with Bryan. I'd say it was some quality bonding time for both of us. It was awesome to be able to plan and get excited about the study together...he was the perfect study leader too.
-Tulip Noir for breakfast with Ash and Mom on Saturday morning! I experienced the best matcha green tea of my life. :)
-We headed to the fashion mall after that where I found wonderful, Anthropologie, pajama pants on sale. Chaching!
-Baby Christian had his first birthday and we celebrated with a brunch style party. I love spending time with family. Andria did a great job making fun/cute foods for the occasion.
-Clint and Alesa came back to Lafayette Saturday evening. Wonderful turn of events!
-Heidi spent Saturday night with me and also most of Sunday too. She's great.
-Whole wheat pancakes for breakfast Sunday morning with Mom, Kurt, and Heidi. We piled them high with fruit, yogurt, and whipped cream.
-Reading a really good novel for my history class at random times throughout the weekend.
-Wild Cat run w/Mom. We totally dominated those ravines! It was a really pretty Sunday evening too...misty and perfectly cool.
-Watching Anne of Avonlea with mom.

Seriously, when I stop and think about it...I'm so blessed to have the friends and family that I do. Hmmm. I'm feeling a little better already. I need to remind myself of what life is really about sometimes.


And move I shall! Off to spend the rest of my night studying for my Horticulture exam tomorrow morning! Wish me luck.

This one seems more dramatic when posted on its own.

Senior Summer Pictures!

I found these surfing through old files on Mom and Dad's computer. I don't think I'd really looked through them since the summer of 2008. I felt like I was getting a little tast of the California fun all over again. :)
I only sent a few to my lap-top...there are some pretty amazing ones I didn't get the chance to copy(bigsur, sanfranciso, hugemansions, etc).

This really was an awesome trip. It's sad how we totally forget memoreis from our lives. Even the monumental/epic ones seem to float away!

Run for the hills!

Sadie came to visit during Purdue singing weekend. It was so nice.
Mom was great in getting some pretty fun photos of us. :)

We had a really awesome heart-to-heart at Greyhouse and then spent the afternoon in further conversation while running. There's just never enough time when you wanto to talk about everything...

And Stretch stretch stretch it

Sure glad we got Quincey in there!

(I am well aware that this picture is quite ridiculous...Ha)

Then--- we made marvelous fruit and yogurt parfaits
(with greek yogurt of course). Splendid.

Conversation?

Setting: The ever so luxurious Marstellar kitchen
Characters: Christen, Kaitlin
Time of day: Doesn't matter
Critical items to this story: Peanuts and cranberries.

So, I just recently decided to consolidate my left-over peanuts with my left-over cranberries. Turns out, it's a killer combination! I wanted to share it with Christen. And so I did...

Kaitlin: "Try these! Crazy how they are so much better when put together...(dorky smile)...just like you and me."
Christen: "Oh, you're so sweet...and salty! Hahahaha!"
Kaitlin: "Haha! You're so nutty! Hahahaha!"
Christen: "Ohhhh...you're berry funny!!!" (Raging laughter at this point)

Seriously. It was probably the coolest conversation I've ever had where punning is concerned. :)

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Eating dinner together at Thai Essence.
("Curry is curry, but curry with friends...Mmm,"
a slightly revised quote from Mr. Elton!)

I just found this picture today and it is so...interesting. I'm not sure what I think it means. But, it does provoke a response in me...just not sure what. :)

Maybe it's sort of how I feel about life lately. Sometimes it can seem really scary and strange. Like, I don't really feel like life is reality and things are not certain or explainable. She seems out of place in this picture and yet she really does look like she belongs there. the surroundings are sort of creepy, but she gives off a sort of peaceful vibe in the midst of it all. And, the door/road idea is sort of like the continuation of life and opportunities. I like the picture because it makes me feel uncomfortable one moment and then totally intrigued and inspired the next moment. I can't just look at it without wanting to figure it out and understand how it makes me feel. Maybe if I stare at it a little longer or look at it from a different angle it will suddenly make sense or I'll see some part of it that I didn't notice before. But then again, maybe it's just an artistic picture that really doesn't need an explanation. And, maybe I spend too too much time trying to always understand my feelings and emotions about things.

I could pretty much talk about this all day

...but am I even making sense?

Maybe not. :)

A friend sent this picture to me...so strange that I don't remember ever wearing such an elaborate headpiece. :)

I think we all have a majestic lioness within ourselves! ROAAAR.